List of Gondarine churches

Tradition states that Gondar, the capital of the Ethiopian Empire, had 44 Orthodox Tewahedo churches. There are fewer churches in this list – Stuart Munro-Hay provides evidence that shows the number was meant to be taken symbolically, rather than literally – and not all of them are, properly speaking, in Gondar.[1]

Name Date founded (if known) Comments
Abba Antons ("Father Anthony")1715Located west of Gondar. Built under Emperor Yostos reign.[2] Original paintings removed in 1933 by Marcel Griaule, now on display at the Musée de l'Homme.[3]
Abajale Tekle HaymanotOriginal church built during reign of Emperor Fasilides, and later underwent restoration under Emperor Tekle Haymanot II. The church is dedicated to Saint Tekle Haymanot.[4]
Abhorra GiyorgisLocated 3 kilometers south of Gondar
AbyegziOriginal church founded by an aristocrat in the reign of Tekle Haymanot II. Present structure is a round church
Adababay IyasusLocated in Adababay, the market place outside the southern gates of the Royal Enclosure. Founded by Emperor Fasilides.[5]
Adababay Tekle HaymanotLocated in Adababay. Founded by Emperor Iyasus I[6]
Asasame Qeddus MikaelLocated inside the Royal Enclosure. Dedicated by Emperor Dawit II.[7]
Ba'eta Maryam1775Founded by Tekle Haymanot II. Was among the richest churches in Gondar until it was burnt to the ground in the sack of Gondar by Tewodros II in 1866. Rebuilt in the late 1920s.[8]
Qeddus QirqosLocated on southeast end of Adababay, and named after the child martyr Quiricus of Tarsus. Original church founded by Emperor Tekle Haymanot II
Dafacha Kidane Mehret"Convent of Mercy" Founded by Bakaffa; by 1973 this church was in ruins
Debre Berhan Selassie1693Best known of the churches of Gondar for its interior paintings. Avoided destruction by the Mahdists in 1888, this church "offers some idea of what other treasures might be in Gonder today had it not been for the Mahdist War."[9]
Debre Metmaq MariyamFounded by Emperor Tekle Giyorgis in late 18th century.
DibaboAlso known as the "Church of the Apostles of Deva"
Elfin GiyorgisLocated inside the Royal Enclosure. Constructed by Emperor Fasilides.[7]
EwostatewosNamed for the Ethiopian saint. Founded by Bakaffa
Egziabeher AbFounded by Emperor Fasilides, but destroyed in the Mahdist sack of Gondar. According to Solomon Getahun, the site is now occupied by a mosque built during the reign of Emperor Menelik II.[10]
Fit Qeddus MikaelOld church of St Michael, burned down in 1725. A modern round church stands on this site, although an old archway from the original church still stands
The Four SaintsAlso known as the church of the Four Animals. Now vanished, but the site is marked by a fig tree.
Gemjabet MariyamLocated inside the Royal Enclosure. Constructed by Emperor Fasilides.[11]
St. George of DamotBurned down in 1695
Hamara Noh ("Noah's Ark")1710Also known as Selestu Mit. Founded by Emperor Tewoflos. Mentioned numerous times in the 18th century, this church since vanished without a visible trace.
HawaryatBy 1938, all that remained were traces of the enclosure wall and a mound of stones.
St. John of GuaraPerhaps founded by one of the relatives of Empress Mentewab
Lideta Mariyam ("Birth of the Virgin Mary")1713The first of two churches constructed under Emperor Yostos.[2]
Mariyam SeyonMunro-Hay doubts this church ever existed
Mariyam SihorChurch southwest of Gondar
Medhane AlemSeat of the Ethiopian Orthodox bishop of Gondar
St. Mikael of AiraUnidentified
St. Mikael of BelageoAlso known as Bilajig Mikael
Peter and PaulUnidentified
Qaha Iyasus churchMay have existed before the founding of Gondar.
Qeddus AbboAlso known as Fit Abbo. First church built by Emperor Fasilides in Gondar.
Qeddus FasilidesMunro-Hay believes this "was actually nothing other than a re-use of the pavilion in the lake usually called the Bath of Fasiladas."
Qeddus GabraelOriginal church said to have been built by Emperor Fasilides; location now occupied by a large square church. Solomon Getahun notes this was the seat of the Abuna, and served as a refuge for asylum-seekers. The Abuna moved his residence to Medhane Alem (see above) during the Italian occupation.[12]
Qeddus Rafael1722Adjacent to the Royal Enclosure. Burned during unrest in Iyasus II's reign; present structure a new building
Qeddus YohannesBuilt by Ras Wolde Leul during the reign of Iyasu II, currently all that remains of this structure is the stone-built pedestal. Reconstruction planned.
St Simeon of TzaamdiMunro-Hay suggests two different churches this might be: either a church of Samuel southwest of Gondar, or the church of "Tzemba" located on the Lesser Angereb
Wolleka Ba'ataLocated three kilometers north of Gondar
Wrangeb GiyorgisMay have existed before founding of Gondar[13]
Yohannes Wolde NagwadgwadFounded by Emperor Tekle Haymanot II, dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist.[4]

References
  1. Unless otherwise indicated, information for this list taken from Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, the unknown land: a cultural and historical guide (London: I.B. Tauris, 2002), pp. 142-156.
  2. Richard P.K. Pankhurst, History of Ethiopian Towns (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), pp. 144f.
  3. David Buxton, The Abyssinians (New York: Praeger, 1970) p. 151
  4. Richard K. P. Pankhurst, History of Ethiopian Towns (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol. 1 pp. 178f
  5. Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, pp. 140f
  6. Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 141
  7. Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 140
  8. Aida Edemariam, The Wife's Tale, a personal history, 4th Estate, London, 2018
  9. Philip Briggs, Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 5th edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2002), p. 233
  10. Solomon Getahun, History of the City of Gondar (Trenton: Africa World Press, 2005), pp. 17f
  11. Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 139
  12. Solomon Getahun, City of Gondar, pp. 22, 31
  13. Solomon Getahun, City of Gondar, p. 3
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